Howburn Digger wrote:
Littlestone wrote:
Archaeology is far from being everywhere. It’s not in schools where its absence is a major gap in raising awareness among the young of its importance.
At the school where I work, and for much of the scottish curriculum (24 years in Education Work this year), the earliest history of Scotland is demonstrated through an examination of the discovery and excavation of Skara Brae. Archaeological methods, finds and contexts are looked at in respect of THE outstanding site of a very early scottish settlement. It is a great example. However Skara Brae must play its part in the wider curriculum for History which looks at proper History like... Who writes History? What is Evidence? Primary sources... Secondary sources etc. Later Historical Period stuff like The Normans and The Scottish Wars of Independence are taught through examining sources and artifacts as well as looking at remains/ reconstructions of historical sites (like Motte and Baileys, Castles etc.). The artefactual evidence of history and archaeology (ie. the "things") play their part in Schools but in the Historical Period they take a less important role and therefore so does the archaeology. Then the shift has to go on to more modern themes like Industrialisation, Highland Clearances, WW1 and Monsters like Hitler, WW2, The Holocaust etc. If you are looking to teach schoolchildren archaeological methods of excavation, I'm not sure just how many sites could be ripped open for them to practise on... or who would pay for consolidation, preservation of finds or archaeological supervision. Let alone transport to and from sites. And when will they learn to read and write or bake cakes, play music or do sums?
Trowelling can be "taught" in about five minutes and kids are brilliant at it. They are also exceptional at finding "sharp and shiny" flints better than ageing adults can...
http://www.biggararchaeology.org.uk/eu_020509.shtml
Littlestone wrote:
the opportunities to ‘engage with archaeologists’ are few and far between, especially for those living outside areas with an active archaeological agenda (that’s something where the internet could play a much more interactive role).
If ANY "interested party" who wants to ‘engage with archaeologists’ uses a computer... there is a popular "search engine" for "the internet" which will quickly direct any "interested party" to their nearest Archaeological Society who are ALWAYS wanting diggers, fieldwalkers and trowellers. There they will be able to engage all they wish.I was an active member of a local Archaeology Group for many years, helped with the Young Archaeology Group, was on hand First Aider (H&S I'm afraid), was taught trowelling in 5 minutes, given thoughtful encouragement by many archaeos and diggers who were soooo knowledgeable and experienced that I felt I should have been paying for the privilege of digging.
A few years back after I made a nifty RA discovery, I found myself engaging with a wide range of "archaeologists" across Scotland's various agencies (Historic Scotland, RCAHMS, WOSAS etc). Their knowledge of my inquiry ("my agenda" if you like) varied... some knew lots, some little, some hee-haw and some sweet FA about Rock Art. Some engagement was done in person but much was through emails and "the internet". Some of it simply involved sending Jpegs and a covering email. Some were less helpful, interested or knowledgeable than others... but that is Life in every kinda way.
I suppose they won't come chapping on your door...
As for heirlooms, attic finds, or auction bargains, I would say in defence of these progs that in addition to the bits and pieces they often feature a visit to a museum, country, house, or site, they explore history including archaeology through that context, and provide reference to where in life we see the things that archaeologists unearth
Accepted that none of the above is parcelled in a bundle and shoved in front of you like Time Team or in a dedicated mag, and clearly the demise of the former and the circulation figures for the latter are a measure of archaeology's relative position to cookery and health/diet progs/mags that suddenly seem everywhere, but looking at what is out there and what people are actively engaging with history through is nonetheless encouraging.